Keyboard panel for an electric switch contact

ABSTRACT

A keyboard panel having a rigid panel board with a plurality of apertures and a resilient material filling the apertures. The resilient material has a force transmitting and concentrating projection at each of the apertures so that the resilient material develops a tactile feel as it resists deformation.

United States Patent Pinkham Dec. 30, 1975 KEYBOARD PANEL FOR AN ELECTRIC 3,699,294 10/1972 Sudduth 200/264 X WITCH NTA T 3,728,509 4/1973 ShimOjO 200/264 X 8 CO C 3,760,137 9/1973 Shimojo (it al. 200/159 B X [75] Inventor: Philip C. Pinkham, Arleta, Calif. 3,789,167 1/1974 Seeger, Jr. et al. 200/5 A [73] Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc., Beverly Hills,

Cahf' Primary ExaminerPhilip Dier [22] Filed: July 26, 1974 21 Appl. No.1 492,170 7 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 428/67; 428/138; 156/293;

200/264 A keyboard panel having a rigid panel board with a 1 (ll-2W 332B 329D HOlH plurality of apertures and a resilient material filling the 1 Field of Search n apertures. The resilient material has a force transmit- 2O0/159 5 ting and concentrating projection at each of the aper- 67 tures so that the resilient material develops a tactile feel as it resists deformation. [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,617,660 1/1970 Krakinowski 200/159 B X U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 a 3 d b C a o o 2 M 2 W F. W m 25 l k- In H. 3 a 2 2 ID c d I 2% 2 1 8 KEYBOARD PANEL FOR AN ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTACT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Message entry devices for establishing a coded message for transmission to a central station ordinarily include an array of switches adapted to be actuated to operate on logic circuitry to formulate a predetermined message. Heretofore, such message entry devices have utilized ordinary switch devices having switch actuating means adapted to be operated by the operator. As an example of such switch actuators, the message entry devices utilized keys associated with each switch adapted to be depressed to close contacts associated with the switch for operation on the logic circuitry.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a keyboard panel is provided having a rigid and apertured panel board with a resilient material carried by the board and filling its apertures. The resilient material has a force transmitting and concentrating projection at each of the apertures. When the resilient material is deformed at a selected aperture, the resilient material resists such deformation and thereby develops a relatively good tactile feel.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which may be regarded as the invention, the organization and method of operation, together with further objects, features, and the attending advantages thereof, may best be understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the keyboard panel of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, one keyboard panel 10 of the invention is illustrated as a planar panel; however, it is contemplated that the panel can be curvilinear, for example, or another selected geometry. A rigid panel 12 is mounted on a support surface and/or structure 14 by a plurality of similar fasteners, such as screws 16. The panel 12 has a plurality of similar apertures 18 that are located in a predetermined pattern as illustrated. A

2 flexible, and preferably resilient, material 20 fills each or selected ones of the apertures 18 as described hereinafter.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the rigid panel 12 has a first or obverse surface 22 and a second or reverse surface 24 with apertures 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d opened therethrough. Each of the apertures 18 has a similar radially inwardly extending lip flange 26 that extends into the aperture and is flush with the second surface 24. The resilient material 20, which can be an elastomer such as silicone rubber, fills each of the apertures 18 and is flush with the first surface 22 as illustrated. It is contemplated that the resilient material 20 can be raised from the first surface 22. The resilient material 20 extends beyond the second surface 24 and is preferably bonded at its lateral portions 28 and 30 to the second surface of the panel 12. The resilient material is suitably formed at each or selected ones of the apertures 18 to develop similar force transmitting and concentrating projections 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3; the later figure also illustrating adjacent projections 32e and 32f which are not shown by FIG. 2. The force transmitting and concentrating projections can be of any selected geometry but are preferably the mesa projections as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3.

Operatively, the keyboard panel 10 of the invention covers'and is spaced from one or more conventional keys (not shown) that are to be selectively actuated. If a key associated with aperture 18b, for example, is to be actuated, an actuating force is applied to the resilient material 20 which fills aperture 18b at its first surface as schematically represented by applied force arrow 34. The applied force deforms the resilient material 20 within aperture 18b and displaces the first surface to the generally concave phantom surface 36. Concomitantly, the force concentrating projection 32b is similarly displaced to the phantom key-actuating position 38 where the projection 32b impinges upon and actuates the conventional key (not shown) as desired. Because the resilient material is preferably selected to resist such deformation at a selected aperture, the hardness of the material amplifies the sensation of movement and thereby provides a tactile feel of key actuation. The lip flanges 26 and the lateral portions 28 and 30 provide additional locking of the resilient material to the panel 12 so that the applied force 34, unless it is unnecessarily large, does not destroy the integrity of the resilient material bond to the second surface 24. This is important where an environmental integrity of the keyboard panel 10 is critical and is desired.

As will be evidenced from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction as illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications that do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I Claim:

1. A keyboard panel comprising:

a. rigid means having a plurality of apertures and further having first and second spaced-apart surfaces,

b. a lip flange extending from said rigid means radially inwardly into each of said apertures,

c. flexible means carried by said rigid means filling each of said apertures substantially flush with said 5. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said force transmitting and concentrating means is a projection of said flexible means at each of said apertures.

6. The keyboard panel of claim 5 in which said pro- 5 jection develops a mesa.

7. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said second surface is flush with said lip flanges.

8. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means has lateral portions suitably bonded to said second surface so that said flexible means provides an environmental seal.

9. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means is a resilient material bonded to said rigid means and further retained by said lip flange. 

1. A KEYBOARD PANEL COMPRISING: A. RIGID MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES AND FURTHER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED-APART SURFACES, B. A LIP FLANGE EXTENDING FROM SAID RIGID MEANS RADIALLY INWARDLY INTO EACH OF SAID APERTURES, C. FLEXIBLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID RIGID MEANS FILLING EACH OF SAID APERTURES SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID FIRST SURFACE AND COVERING A SELECTED PORTION OF SAID SECOND SURFACE, SAID APERTURE LIP FLANGE RETAINING SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS TO SAID RIGID MEANS AT EACH OF SAID APERTURES, AND
 2. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said rigid means is an apertured panel board.
 3. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said flexible means is a resilient material.
 4. The keyboard panel of claim 3 in which said resilient material is an elastomer.
 5. The keyboard panel of Claim 1 in which said force transmitting and concentrating means is a projection of said flexible means at each of said apertures.
 6. The keyboard panel of claim 5 in which said projection develops a mesa.
 7. The keyboard panel of claim 1 in which said second surface is flush with said lip flanges.
 8. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means has lateral portions suitably bonded to said second surface so that said flexible means provides an environmental seal.
 9. The keyboard panel of claim 7 in which said flexible means is a resilient material bonded to said rigid means and further retained by said lip flange. 